Chapter 83: Drink! Everyone, Raise Your Glasses!

After the banquet, Yu Daoyi did not use spiritual energy to dispel the drunkenness from his body. He was dazed, intoxicated like a mere mortal, savoring this rare descent into oblivion. Supported by Yaoyao as he walked back, he felt that the land of beauty and wine was where even a hero’s spirit could be gently unburdened.

Within the simple house, on a bed neither large nor small, Yu Daoyi lay quietly, with no sign of Xiao Qian nearby. Yaoyao, still somewhat tipsy, gazed at the handsome, delicate features of the man on the bed, her pretty brows slightly furrowed as though lost in thought.

She turned to look at the moonlight outside the window, as if weighing something in her mind. After a long while, a sound from outside reached her ears. Yaoyao bit her lip gently, as though making up her mind.

Yu Daoyi, lying on the bed, had endured rounds of toasts and had not forced out the alcohol; even his strong body was struggling with the weight of it. He drifted into deep sleep, oblivious to the pale moonlight pouring through the window—moonlight tinged with a faint shade of blood.

The next day, when Yu Daoyi opened his eyes, he was bewildered. For some reason, he felt utterly drained, as if he had fought hundreds of battles through the night. His right hand was at his mouth, and he seemed to have bitten it himself.

But the scene before him forced him to set these details aside. In front of him was a landscape of birdsong and blooming flowers, green mountains and clear waters. Beside him, a small stream flowed quietly.

“Ha, ha, it’s the first time I’ve seen someone foolish enough to bite their own hand,” a lazy voice called from behind him.

A familiar voice, familiar words. Turning around, he saw behind him a peach tree—an enormous, ancient peach tree.

Did I drink myself into oblivion? Yu Daoyi asked himself more than once.

And why am I so exhausted, as though my body has been emptied and my spirit drained? What exactly happened last night?

And where is my Yaoyao? Did I lose control after drinking? No, no, I’m a cultivator! Even if I did, there should be some memory! Ah, drinking really leads to trouble, he thought with regret. Wait, regret? What am I expecting?

His cheeks flushed red.

“Hey, hey, I’m talking to you! What are you daydreaming about?” From the peach tree above, a youth called down to him, annoyed at being ignored.

“Alright, I hear you, I’m not deaf. Xiao Qian, why am I here?” Yu Daoyi patted his head, trying to rouse himself, but the inexplicable physical depletion and spiritual fatigue seemed impossible to shake off in a short time.

“Xiao Qian? How do you know my name? Who are you?” The youth in the tree asked, puzzled.

Even the thick-skinned Yu Daoyi sensed something was wrong. Peach blossoms danced in the air, the afternoon sunlight was warm and lazy, and the handsome, slightly drunk youth lay in the tree—this scene felt uncannily familiar.

“You… don’t recognize me?” Yu Daoyi asked hesitantly.

“What do you mean, ‘don’t recognize you’? I’ve never seen you before,” Xiao Qian frowned, staring at the strange man beneath the tree.

“How can that be! How can you not know me!” Yu Daoyi was incredulous, then suddenly remembered something and called up, “Besides you, I know you have a sister named Yaoyao, right? And the village chief’s surname is Chen, Uncle Zhang, Uncle Li—I know them all!”

“That’s odd. Everything you say is true, but I know everyone in the village, and I’ve never seen you. Unless… I really forgot?” Xiao Qian scratched his head, confused.

“Xiao Qian, can you take me into the village? Maybe Village Chief Grandpa will recognize me.” Yu Daoyi suddenly had an idea and urged him hurriedly.

“Right, let’s take you to Village Chief Grandpa, he’s lived longer than anyone here—there’s nothing he doesn’t know!” Xiao Qian jumped down from the tree, still slightly tipsy, full of admiration.

The same road, the same scenery, villagers stepping from their tidy houses to smile and nod at the pair. Xiao Qian greeted them, but none recognized Yu Daoyi, as if meeting him for the first time.

Within the village, as before, under a tall peach tree, several elders sat on a long bench, gently waving palm fans, chatting and laughing.

“Hey~ Village Chief Grandpa~”

Xiao Qian ran over and threw himself into the chief’s arms, laughing with the elders nearby, while Yu Daoyi’s expression grew ever more grave—the events so far explained much.

“Village Chief Grandpa, I have something serious to ask you!” Xiao Qian said earnestly.

“Son Song Cheng, you’re an outsider who stumbled in by chance, no intention of disturbing anyone,” Yu Daoyi spoke first, using the name Song Cheng.

“The serious matter is him—he seems to know us, but I can’t remember ever meeting him.” Xiao Qian pointed at Yu Daoyi.

“He knows us? My old eyes and memory aren’t what they used to be, but you look unfamiliar. How do you know us?” The village chief’s eyes, hidden in wrinkles, stared at Yu Daoyi.

Yu Daoyi’s grave expression did not fade. He replied solemnly, “I must have mistaken you for someone else, a coincidence. But that’s not important. Elder, please tell me—how can I leave this place?”

“Leave? What’s wrong with Peach Blossom Village?” the chief asked.

“Nothing is wrong, it’s just…” Yu Daoyi started, but the chief cut him off.

“Old Li, Old Zhang, gather the villagers. We have a guest—let’s be hospitable.”

…Can’t you let me finish? Why does the village chief always change the subject? I want to leave, damn it!

“Brother Cheng! Come with me, you’ll stay at my house tonight. My sister is there, she’ll be happy to meet you.” Xiao Qian tugged at Yu Daoyi’s sleeve and led him away.

On the way to Xiao Qian’s home, everything unfolded much as before, the villagers warmly greeting them, but the repetition made the truth clear.

“Am I… replaying the same scenario? But why?” Yu Daoyi muttered, frowning as Xiao Qian led him along.

“Brother Cheng, this is my home. Sis, sis, I’m back!” Xiao Qian called loudly into the house.

Yaoyao came out, as beautiful as ever, though she coughed twice; her health still frail.

To uncover the truth and not be swayed by beauty, Yu Daoyi pinched his thigh hard to keep himself calm!

“Are you the guest Village Chief Grandpa mentioned?” Her sweet, gentle voice made Yu Daoyi’s breath quicken.

Damn! Lust is emptiness, emptiness is lust—I keep away from women, I don’t want them! Lady, please return to where you came from!

Yu Daoyi bowed his head and silently recited the Heart Sutra, vowing not to be shaken by feminine charms, firm in his resolve! Qiu Ling is still waiting for him outside—how could he betray her? Nothing could tempt him now!

…

“Haha, drink! Come on, everyone, drink!”

As night fell, at the lively, boisterous banquet, Yu Daoyi had one foot on a wooden chair, the other on the table, drinking with wild abandon, eating meat and downing wine, playing drinking games as if he were one of them.

Beside him, Yaoyao’s cheeks were flushed as she gently poured wine for him, while Yu Daoyi made teasing remarks, causing her to laugh melodiously.

This was his nature: insisting he wanted nothing, while his body obeyed his desires.